DEAMER HOPING NEW ARRIVAL CAN KNOCK OUT CUP RIVALS

JASON Deamer is no stranger to being called on by long-standing client Dynamic Syndications to resurrect the form of a city discard.

It’s A Knockout is the skilful Newcastle trainer’s latest acquisition, and he’s hoping she will live up to her name in tomorrow’s Tuncurry-Forster Gold Cup at Tuncurry.

Especially as the $100,000 1600m feature carries eligibility into the $3m Listed Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on November 3.

Dynamic didn’t waste time transferring the six-year-old mare from Ciaron Maher to Deamer after she finished seventh to Narbold in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on August 20.

“It’s A Knockout came to me the next day,” Deamer said today.

“I will have had her three weeks when the Cup is run tomorrow, and she is in good order.

“I haven’t done anything different, and haven’t changed any gear.

“I’ve just kept ticking her over.”

Talented Gold Coast apprentice Archie McColm will partner It’s A Knockout in the Cup after a riding mix-up.

“Ash Morgan was booked to ride the mare, but Matthew Smith (Sydney trainer) was adamant he had booked him for his runner Dubai Warrior,” Deamer explained.

“We then had the choice of going to an apprentice to lessen It’s A Knockout’s 60.5kg topweight. It wasn’t a tough decision, although Archie has never ridden for me previously."

“He won a 2020m handicap for Dynamic on Amplify (also trained by Maher) at the Murwillumbah Cup meeting on August 21 (and clinched a treble by also winning the Cup on Brisbane-trained Golden Cross).

“He is riding plenty of winners, and his 1.5kg claim will be very handy."

“Dynamic won the Tuncurry-Forster Gold Cup last year with Lugh, who then ran third in the Big Dance.

“Hopefully they can win the Cup for a second year running, and it would be my first.”

It’s A Knockout, a daughter of Dundeel, has won three races – including a Randwick 1600m victory in June last year – and been placed six times from only 19 starts.

Her sole placing in five runs this preparation was a second to Mickey’s Medal (Rowley Mile winner Narbold was third) in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on July 11 on a ‘Heavy 9’ surface.

The Cup has drawn a capacity field of 14, and Deamer’s mare was at $6.50 today with TAB.com.au.

Non-claiming apprentice Anna Roper, fresh from a Brisbane treble at Eagle Farm last Saturday, rides the $3.80 favorite Inquiring Minds for Sydney co-trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.

Team O’Shea also has $4.40 second favorite Zouna, to be ridden by Newcastle’s Aaron Bullock.

Aside from It’s A Knockout, the other provincial acceptors are Kris Lees’ Pier Pressure (Christian Reith), Paul Perry’s General Soho (non-claiming apprentice Will Stanley), and Damien Lane’s Wealthy Investor, though no jockey has been declared. STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS.